Action Learning draws its roots from different philosophies of learning and change, which in turn, influence its design and practice. This article identifies common factors and differences among three different ‘schools’ of practice (Scientific, Experiential and Critical Reflection). It then distinguishes Action Learning from the other action approaches in this volume.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bunning, C. (1992) ‘Turning Experience into Learning’, Journal of European Industrial Training16(6): 7-12.
2.
Casey, D. (1991) ‘The Role of the Set Advisor’, in M. Pedler (ed.) Action Learning in Practice, pp. 261-274. Brookfield, VT: Gower.
3.
Dennis, C. B. , Cederholm, L. and Yorks, L. (1996) ‘Learning your Way to a Global Organization’, in K. E. Watkins and V. J. Marsick (eds) In Action: Creating the Learning Organization, pp. 165-178. Alexandria, VA: ASTD.
4.
Dotlich, D. L. and Noel, J. L. (1998) Action Learning: How the World’s Top Companies are Recreating their Leaders and Themselves. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
5.
Harrison, R. and Miller, S. (1993) ‘Doctors in Management: Two Into One Won’t Go—Or Will It? Part I’, Executive Development6(2): 9-13.
6.
Inglis, S. (1994) Making the Most of Action Learning. Brookfield, VT: Gower.
7.
Kolb, D. (1984) Experiential Learning. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
8.
Lawrence, J. (1991) ‘Action Learning—A Questioning Approach’, in A. Mumford (ed.) Gower Handbook of Management Development, 3rd edn, pp. 214-247. Brookfield, VT: Gower.
9.
Lessem, R. (1991) ‘A Biography of Action Learning’, in M. Pedler (ed.) Action Learning in Practice, 2nd edn, pp. 17-30. Brookfield, VT: Gower.
10.
McGill, I. and Beaty, L. (1992) Action Learning: A Practitioner’s Guide. London: Kogan Page.
11.
McLaughlin, R. and Thorpe, R. (1993) ‘Action Learning—A Paradigm in Emergence: The Problems Facing a Challenge to Traditional Management Education and Development’, British Journal of Management4(1): 19-27.
12.
MacNamara, M. and Weekes, W. H. (1982) ‘The Action Learning Model of Experiential Learning for Developing Managers’, Human Relations35(10): 879-902.
13.
McNulty, N. G. (1979) ‘Management Development by Action Learning’, Training and Development Journal (Mar): 12-18.
14.
Marsick, V. J. (1990) ‘Action Learning and Reflection in the Workplace’, in J. Mezirow (ed.) Fostering Critical Reflection in Adulthood, pp. 23-46. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
15.
Marsick, V. J. and Watkins, K. E. (1992) Informal and Incidental Learning in the Workplace. London: Routledge.
16.
Mezirow, J. (ed.) (1990) Fostering Critical Reflection in Adulthood. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
17.
Mezirow, J. (1991) Transformative Dimensions of Adult Learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
18.
Morris, J. (1991) ‘Minding Our P’s and Q’s’, in M. Pedler (ed.) Action Learning in Practice, 2nd edn, pp. 71-80. Brookfield, VT: Gower.
19.
Mumford, A. (1989) ‘Action Learning and Learning from Experience’, unpublished draft chapter for ILO book.
20.
Mumford, A. (1991) ‘Action Learning Moves On’, unpublished draft.
21.
Mumford, A. (1994) ‘A Review of Action Learning Literature’, Management Bibliographies & Reviews20(6/7): 2-16.
22.
Mumford, A. (1995) ‘Managers Developing Others through Action Learning’, Industrial & Commercial Training27(2): 19-27.
23.
Mumford, A. (1996) ‘Effective Learners in Action Learning Sets’, Employee Counselling Today8(6): 5-12.
24.
Mumford, A. (ed.) (1997) Action Learning at Work. Aldershot: Gower.
25.
Noel, J. L. and Charan, R. (1988) ‘Leadership Development at GE’s Crotonville’, Human Resource Management27(4): 433-447.
26.
O’Neil, J. (1996). A Study of the Role of Learning Adviser in Action Learning’, Employee Counselling Today: The Journal of Workplace Learning8(6): 42-47.
27.
O’Neil, J. (1999) ‘The Role of Learning Advisors in Action Learning’, unpublished dissertation. Teachers College, Columbia University, New York.
28.
O’Neil, J. , Arnell, E. and Turner, E. (1996) ‘Earning While Learning’, in K. E. Watkins and V. J. Marsick (eds) In Action: Creating the Learning Organization, pp. 153-164. Alexandria, VA: ASTD.
29.
O’Neil, J. and Marsick, V. J. (1994) ‘Becoming Critically Reflective Through Action Reflection Learning’, in A. Brooks and K. Watkins (eds) The Emerging Power of Action Inquiry Technologies, New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education 63, pp. 17-30. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
30.
O’Neil, J.et al. (1997) ‘Life on the Seesaw: Tensions in Action Reflection LearningTM’, in M. Pedler (ed.) Action Learning in Practice, 3rd edn, pp. 339-346. Brookfield, VT: Gower.
31.
Pedler, M. (ed.) (1991) Action Learning in Practice, 2nd edn.Brookfield, VT: Gower.
32.
Pedler, M. (ed.) (1997) Action Learning in Practice, 3rd edn.Aldershot: Gower.
33.
Revans, R. W. (1970) ‘The Managerial Alphabet’, in G. Heald (ed.) Approaches to the Study of Organizational Behavior, pp. 141-161. London: Tavistock.
34.
Revans, R. W. (1978, reprinted in 1995) The A. B. C. of Action Learning: A Review of 25 Years of Experience. Salford: University of Salford.
35.
Revans, R. W. (1981) ‘The Nature of Action Learning’, Omega9(1): 9-24.
36.
Revans, R. W. (1982) The Origin and Growth of Action Learning. London: Chartwell Bratt.
37.
Revans, R. W. (1984) ‘Action Learning: The Business of Learning About Business’, in D. Casey and D. Pearce (eds) More Than Management Development: Action Learning at GEC, pp. 3-6. Aldershot: Gower.
38.
Revans, R. W. (1987) ‘International Perspectives on Action Learning’, Manchester Training Handbooks, University of Manchester, Institute for Development Policy and Management.
39.
Revans, R. W. (1989) The Golden Jubilee of Action Learning. Manchester: Manchester Action Learning Exchange, University of Manchester.
40.
Revans, R. W. (1995) ‘Revans on the Kolb Learning Cycle’, in K. Weinstein (ed.) Action Learning News14(3): 7-8.
41.
Rohlin, L. (1993) ‘Fifteen Years and 350 Learning Projects Later: What are we Learning about Learning?’, unpublished manuscript.
42.
Senge, P. M. (1990) The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. New York: Doubleday.
43.
Sutton, D. (1997) ‘In Search of P’, in A. Mumford (ed.) Action Learning at Work, pp. 55-61. Aldershot: Gower.
44.
Weinstein, K. (1995) Action Learning: A Journey in Discovery and Development. London: Harper Collins.
45.
Yorks, L. (1997) Personal correspondence: Notes from Action Learning conference.
46.
Yorks, L.et al. (1998) ‘Transfer of Learning from an Action Reflection LearningTM Program’, Performance Improvement Quarterly11(1): 59-73.